Vale frowns. “That is preemptively judgmental. Not only is it a gross violation of your right to choose, it’s cowardly, and outright illegal. Wait until the Witch and Warlock council hears about this. There will be outrage.”
I’m actually really glad to hear that. “The Witch and Warlock council? Which are you?”
“I am a warlock, though the terms are largely interchangeable in modern practice. Historically, ‘warlock’ implied an oath-breaker, but the large number of warlocks working in the legal profession has rehabilitated the word.”
“And demons? I met one yesterday. He said he was assigned as my familiar.”
One of Vale’s eyebrows rises slightly as he pulls a file from his briefcase and filters through paperwork. “Ah yes, S’Narkathis of Endless Ridicule. I was sent his contract to file. Everything looks to be in order with the terms of the assignment.”
“Assigned by whom?”
“The forces that govern witch-familiar bonds. Minor demons like S’Narkathis can be bound into service as part of your magical awakening. Think of it as cosmic customer service.” He straightens his already-perfect tie. “They can be irritating, but the bond cannot be broken except by death.”
Awesome.I’m magically stuck with a sarcastic demon who wants nothing to do with me.
Vale closes his briefcase and stands. “I’ll leave these items with you and return once I’ve gathered information about your sisters. In the meantime, I suggest you familiarize yourself with your inheritance.”
He hands me an ornate key that feels warm against my palm. “This opens your mother’s safe deposit box at First National Bank of Emberwood. You’ll find additional resources there.”
I walk him to the door, my head spinning with everything he’s told me.
“Miss Hallowind,” he says, pausing on the threshold. “Your mother was a remarkable woman. I am terribly sorry for your loss, but know that she planned carefully for this day. I am at your service.”
“Thank you.”
He nods once and strides toward a sleek black Mercedes parked in the driveway. As he approaches, his driver jumps out from behind the wheel and rushes around the car to open his door.
Two-point-three million dollars.
A house and forty-seven acres.
Magical artifacts.
I let out a hysterical squeal and then suck in a breath, an idea taking form in my mind. If I hurry, I can make it to the bank before it closes. Then, once I know what my mom left for me, I’ll go to the diner to tell Asher the news.
Ohmygod, he’s going to lose his mind.
I grab my phone and the ornate key, shoving both into the pockets of my stretch pants before heading outside and toward what I hope is the garage. Other than my foray into the backyard to go to the standing stones, I haven’t explored the property at all.
Used to the city and taking public transit or walking everywhere, it never occurred to me that my parents might’ve left us cars. But yeah, I guess if they were raising three girls, there must be something in there.
The garage door responds to my touch just like everything else in this place. Inside, two vehicles wait under dust covers like sleeping giants. I yank off the first cover and freeze.
A pristine Mustang fastback gleams cherry red beneath the fluorescent lights. The second cover reveals a Lexus LM minivan that looks like it just rolled off the lot.
“Um… nope.”
I back away from both cars. These aren’t “borrow for a quick trip to town” vehicles. These are “crash this and ruin your inheritance” vehicles. Plus, if they’ve been sitting here for five years, they’ll likely need fluid and new hoses and things, right? I don’t know much about cars, but I know that.
Walking it is.
The November air bites at my skin as I step outside, but the afternoon sun warms my face. While Hallowind House isn’t directly in town, it sits maybe fifteen minutes away on foot.
Ten if I’m jazzed and on a mission.
Which I am.
I start down the long driveway, gravel crunching under my sneakers. The trees lining the path burst with autumn colors—deep reds and golden yellows that seem almost too vibrant to be real.
